Helping Your Student Navigate Stress During the Holidays
The holiday season is among us! While this time is filled with laughter and joy, this year it looks different to many. We are very accustomed to operating virtually, but having to go virtual for what used to look like a big family gathering is tough! Especially for the young ones.
The CDC offers some insights into how to celebrate the holidays safely. But beyond switching from in-person to virtual, there are more emotional issues coming up for students this year. Help them navigate COVID this holiday with the following simple tips.
Make The Day Special For Your Household
Many of us are staying home this holiday season, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate. If your tradition is to make the pumpkin or apple pie, involve your student in the process. Use this quieter holiday season to show them the ropes of your favorite holiday recipe or a family recipe they have yet to learn. Spend the time you have at home doing the things you would have been doing with your extended family. If going for a walk after your Thanksgiving meal is a tradition, continue to do those things with the people in your household. Change is really hard, but by keeping some small traditions in place, you can create a sense of calm and consistency for your student.
Focus on Gratitude this Thanksgiving
Giving thanks is what Thanksgiving is all about after all! Even in times of strife and turmoil, there is power in thinking positively. Ask your student what they are thankful for, but offer them practices and help them to get into that mindset. Change can be really difficult for the young, so it can make finding something to feel gratitude about difficult as well. Beyond this holiday, there are great gratitude practices for teens that can actually have profound impacts on their mental health. Perhaps this time off from school can be a good time to start a gratitude practice.
Listen and Be Open to Questions
It’s easy for parents or guardians to want our students to focus on their studies or on their own experiences. But it’s also natural for them to have big questions right now. It’s important to validate that they are worthy of truthful and thoughtful answers to those questions. It’s impossible to know everything and things are incredibly uncertain at the moment, but give them your best and honest answers when they come to you with questions.
Being in your pre-teens and teens can be tough on its own; with the state of the world, it can create much more difficulty. Be gentle with yourself and with your student this holiday season and surround them with love and gratitude.
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season.
